Dozens of  Rebbetzins from Illinois Joined 3,000 Influential Women From Around the Globe for Convention in New York City

Education, Mental Health, Counseling and Inclusion Among Topics Addressed

This past week dozens of Rebbetzins representing the 49 centers of Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois joined more than 3,000 women leaders from all 50 U.S. states and 100 countries, hailing from as far away as Laos and Angola, Ghana and Uzbekistan, at the International Conference of Lubavitch-Chabad Women Emissaries (Kinus Hashluchos) in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The annual event is aimed at reviving Jewish awareness and practice around the world. Women from around the world, gather for five days of brainstorming about the future of World Jewry and their roles as representatives of the Chabad movement.

The women – who embrace multiple roles and responsibilities—explored relevant issues, and learned from professionals and colleagues with years of experience. The topics covered run the gamut of their concerns: understanding troubled relationships; adult education, inclusion; responding to tragedy; the opioid epidemic; mental health; and a conference within the conference for Hebrew school and preschool directors, as well as one for those who serve students on college campuses, ensuring a lasting impact on the next generation of communal leaders.

“It was especially inspiring to see the many young women who selflessness balance the responsibilities of nurturing their families and communities with heart and soul”  said Mrs. Esther Rochel Moscowitz, senior Shlucha in the state of Illinois and principal of Lubavitch Girls High School.

Highlights of the five-day conference included a visit to the gravesite of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, in the New York City borough of Queens, the “class picture”, where they posed for a group photo, as well as the gala banquet, where they joined by admirers, supporters and influential women leaders for a sit-down dinner.

The conference is a tribute to the legacy of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, the esteemed wife of the Rebbe, and is timed to the anniversary of her passing. Rebbetzin Schneerson’s deep care for and insight into their work remains a source of inspiration to the Chabad women emissaries.

The conference also serves another vital purpose; it represents an opportunity to connect with colleagues and recharge their personal energy. This gives the participants, especially those going back to far and isolated outposts, an exhilarating send-off, coupled with the sense that they are not alone.